How do panic attacks come?
Is there a way to overcome it? Is it curable?
This blog is dedicated to research on panic attacks (also known as Anxiety Attack, Anxiety Disorder or Panic Disorder).
Any findings found personally by the author or from a compliation of articles will be published to help readers or their love-ones whom are victims of panic attacks.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Here are a list of herbs that helps to ease Panic Attacks and Anxiety. Relaxant herbs are normally used for mild anxiety or depression. Anti-Anxiety Herbs are used for moderate to severe Panic Attacks. Antidepressant herbs can be used as a natural antidepressant.

Passion Flower – a very effective herb for many conditions as it sedates, soothes, and relaxes.

Chamomile - In the garden, it's thought of as the doctor plant because it helps to strengthen and revive weak herbs nearby. It helps to relax the nerves.

Bach’s Rescue Remedy - Consists of five remedies which are combined together. It consists of STAR OF BETHLEHEM for shock. ROCK ROSE for great fear and panic. IMPATIENTS for mental and physical tension, when the sufferer cannot relax and the mind is agitated and irritable. CHERRY PLUM for loss of emotional control, when the sufferer screams, shouts or becomes hysterical; and CLEMATIS, the remedy for the bemused, distant feeling, which often precedes a faint.

Lime Blossom - Passion Flower - Chamomile

Anti-Anxiety Herbs:Ashwagandha – stabilizes mood and behavioral disturbances. Its anxiety-anxiety effect is comparable to that produced by Lorazepam.

Kava Kava or Kava Extract– Its relaxing effect helps to reduce Anxiety. It is effective as prescription anti-anxiety drugs containing benzodiazepines such as Valium or Lorazepam. The best part of all is it isn’t addictive!

Valerian Root – known for its direct sedative effect on the Central Nervous System (CNS), it is a useful for reducing anxiety (when taken in moderate doses) or difficulty sleeping (when taken in higher doses).

Bacopa – helps ease anxiety-related problems. Works like Lorazepam.

Anti-Depressant Herbs:St John’s Wort – It helps to inhibit Monoamine oxidase (MAO) and works like SSRI medication. However, do not take it with real antidepressant drugs like Prozac (Fluoxetine).

Rhodiola Rosea – it helps support the healthy function of the neurotransmitters or the MAO. It helps to anxiety and many other problems!

Tip: It is said that Kava Kava or Kava Extract is a great anti-anxiety herb to relieve Anxiety and Panic-Attacks. Kava Kava can be taken with St John’s Wort for a bigger and more effective result.

And please do not take antidepressant herbs (like St John's Wort) with real antidepressant (prozac) drugs! If you do you might have Serotonin Syndrome - a serious situation when your brain have too much Serotonin. MAOI medications taken with SSRI medications might also cause Serotonin Syndrome.

Hi Thanks for your input. Currently whenever my anxiety kicks in throughout the year i take ativan/lorazepam. I seriously only take about 25 2mg pills throughout the year during high anxiety moments which is mostly during stressful social situations or when im nervous about something.

Anyways I have been searching for some kind of alternative to Ativan which you seem to have found. Which one out of Ashwagandha, Kava Kava or Kava Extract, and Bacopa do you recommend gives you very similar results to ativan/lorazepam? i would rather take a natural alternative for lorazepam that has the same exact effects.

Thanks for your hardwork. I will check back often to read your tips and suggestions.

Awesome! thanks for the response. Do you know exactly how much milligrams you took to replicate the same feeling of ativan/lorazepam? Also does it matter what brand or as long as its Kava Kava extract? I signed up for socialphobiaworld.com that is where i found your website. So i look forward to speaking with you a bit more in the future. Thanks :-)

Unfortunately, I couldn't really give you the exact amount to be substituted with Lorazepam. It is said that 120–240 mg in 2-3 divided doses in a day is commonly recommended, so you need to try to start from the minimum amount and see how your body reacts to it. Just like how Psychiatrist would give you a low mg of prozac or other drugs and slowly increase its mg till it fits your current level. Lastly, please do keep in mind that Kava Kava shouldn't be used for too long as you might get addicted to it, just like Lorazepam or any other anti-anxiety medication.